Talks Were Shelved When Syrian Civil War Began

Israel’s Netanyahu government and Syria began serious, albeit indirect, talks in 2010 regarding the possibility of a peace treaty ending decades of de facto war between the two nations. In the secret talks, confirmed by US documents, Prime Minister Netanyahu offered to return its border with Syria to the June 4, 1967 line, ending their occupation of the Golan Heights.

The US State Department has confirmed the report, even though Netanyahu has rejected the claim, which first emerged in the Israeli press earlier today. The US was involved in the talks as part of former Special Envoy George Mitchell’s mandate.

According to the reports, the plan was moving along seriously right up until the beginning of 2011, when the Syrian Civil War began. Syria had sought the pullout in the next two years, while Israel sought a much longer timeline.

Netanyahu’s office tried to spin the story entirely differently, claiming the Obama Administration had been the ones pushing for the return of Golan and that Israel “never agreed” to the offer, which they claimed was “irrelevant,” accusing the media of turning it into a political issue.

It could well become a major political issue. Israel annexed Golan in 1981 (a claim not recognized worldwide), and the idea of trading peace for an end to an occupation doesn’t play well with Israel’s far right, which may give Netanyahu’s current coalition partners a chance to campaign against his insufficient hawkishness in the upcoming election.

If you believe that Israel was seriously considering returning the Golan to Syria, you probably also beleive in the Easter Bunny.

curmudgeonvt

Hmmm…makes one wonder whether the Obama Administration decided to release this information – I don't doubt that it is true, btw – in order to let Bibi know that he can insult the Obama Administration and try to influence the US election in Mitt's favor BUT there is a considerable amount of sensitive information concerning the Israelis and what Netanyahoo does that perhaps Netanyahoo would prefer to be kept from the voting Israeli people…perhaps. And since the American people tend to be a little more complacent and forgiving when an Administration does things out of the public eye, the Israeli opposition parties aren't. Even now, they attempt to blame Obama (Mitchell)… Hey Bibi, who's your Daddy? Clown.

tom dee

The golan heights has great defensive ability from an attack up the heights. It is a major death trap to defend with the heights to the back. Israel has to be worried about a major middle east war which they cannot pull their usual sneak attack and a could days later have the USA resupply and if needed provide the cannon fodder. Israel is mater of attack on defenseless population like Gaza and west bank but they have trouble facing armed men.
Israel has overplayed it hand and now is in deep trouble. The call is now for a nuke free middle east and if Israel is forced to surrender the nukes they will slowly become another Libya.